Liquid container dispensing rack



May 22, 1962 c. A. SPEAS 3,035,737

LIQUID CONTAINER DISPENSING RACK Filed Feb. 12, 1960 ,9 I INVENTOR CHARLES A. .S'PEAS BY QMM ATTORNEY v l J.

United States Patent() 3,035,737 LIQUID CONTAINER DISPENSING RACK Charles A. Speas, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Hedwln Corporation, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Mary- Ian Filed Feb. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 8,424 Claims. (Cl. 222-82) the co-pending applications of Thomas W. Winstead, I

Serial No. 618,913, filed October 29, 1956, now Patent No. 2,950,029, issued August 23, 1960, and Serial No. 618,927, filed October 29, 1956, now Patent No. 2,954,- 901, issued October 4, 1960.

' An object of the invention is to provide a dispensing rack comprising a combination of three components, namely, a rack proper for supporting and guiding a liquid container, a pump device mounted at a suitable location on the rack, and a probe device fastened to the rack in such a manner that it can penetrate the container and form a seal in the plastic wall of the container, the probe device being connected through a tube to the pump for the dispensing of fluid from the container.

Numerous hand-operated pumps have been devised for use in dispensing liquids from glass bottles and other containers having threaded closures, and while these have been used with some success, they are objectionable for certain uses because of the fact that the container must first be opened and the pump inserted therein. Where a semi-rigid or flexible plastic package is involved, it has been diificult to successfully adapt them to pump dispens ing procedures because of the inability of the operator to properly connect the pump to the package. In addition to the lack of a satisfactory connection, it has been found diflicult to provide adequate vertical support to the pump to withstand the forces involved in pumping out the contents of a plastic container.

It is therefore another object of the invention to provide a probe-type liquid dispensing rack wherein the physical connection between the pump and the contents of the package or container can be effected by the simple procedure of pushing the package into place.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing rack provided with built-in guide rails adapted to ositivel osition the container or ackage with res ect P Y to the probe secured to the rack, thus avoiding the necessity of the operator relying upon his skill and ability to properly aim the probe for penetration of the container.

Still another object is to provide a dispensing rack wherein the pump and probe device are removably mounted so as to facilitate flushing and cleaning.

A still further object is to provide a dispensing rack which in addition to positively guiding the container in the course of penetration by the probe and firmly supporting it during the pumping operation, presents an attractive appearance for public display.

An additional object is to provide a dispensing rack designed to support a container with a maximum of visibility of the latter, to thereby enhance the public "ice display of advertising matter and the like carried by the package or container.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features herein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout both views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view taken from the front of the dispensing rack, and

FIG. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and showing a container in dispensing position.

As before stated, the rack of the present invention was designed primarily to accommodate a cubical or rectangular package including a plastic liner or inner container and a paperboard overwrap. Therefore, while the principle of the invention may be embodied in various forms to accommodate containers having different contours, the accompanying drawings represent the preferred form of the invention.

In the drawings, the rack proper is designated by the numeral 3 and is preferably formed by molding a suitable material, such as plastic, to provide an integral rigid structure. In the form shown, the rack comprises a hollow body having a substantially rectangular base flange 4, adapted to rest upon any suitable support. The rear portion of the body forms an upstanding pump supporting housing 5, the top wall 6 of which is provided with an opening bounded by an upstanding coupling 7, firmly secured in place on the top wall 6. The coupling 7 is preferably threaded to accommodate complimentary threads on a collar 8 supporting a conventional hand pump 9, the latter being insertable through the coupling 7 and suspended within the housing 5 when the collar 8 is screwed in place. The pump is preferably of the reciprocating piston type, operated by a handle 10 and discharging through a dispensing tube 11.

The forward portion of the rack forming the container support, comprises a platform 12 which is preferably inclined as shown in the drawings, and its inner extremity joins the front Wall of the pump housing 5 at right angles, as shown. This front wall consists of a panel 13, also preferably inclined to define with said platform 12, a right angular container supporting cradle. The lower portion of the panel 13 is preferably offset inwardly as at 13a and provided with a horizontally disposed probe receiving keyhole slot 14 for the purpose hereinafter described.

. A probe device 15, terminating at its forward end in a sharp pointed nose 16, is provided with a radial port 17 immediately posterior to the nose 16, said port communicating with a longitudinal passageway (not shown) within the probe device. The opposite end of the probe device 15 is connected to a flexible tube 18 which, in turn, is connected at 9a to the intake end of the vertical pump 9. Adjacent the point of connection to the tube 18, the probe device is provided with a double flanged adaptor 19 which cooperates with the keyhole slot 14 in panel 13 to retain the probe device in place. In other words, the probe device 15 is inserted in the enlarged portion of the slot 14 until the annular reduced portion of the adaptor be tween the spaced flanges is in line for engagement with the wall of the inset portion 13a bounding the restricted area of the keyhole slot 14, so that when the adaptor is moved horizontally, the spaced flanges thereof engage the wall of the panel and prevent the longitudinal and lateral displacement of the probe device 15.

It will be understood that the length of the probe device 15 beyond the adaptor 19 is such that the probe device projects forwardly, parallel with platform 12, a sufficient distance to insure adequate penetration of a container supported in the cradle formed by the platform 12 and the panel 13, as will later appear.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the package for which this dispensing rack was more particularly designed is in the form of a composite package generally represented by the numeral 20 and comprises a cubeshaped inner liner or container 21 which, when filled and ready forshipment, storage and use, is encased in an outer paperboard carton 22 of corresponding cubical shape. These packages are designed to contain in sealed condition various liquids to be dispensed in' controlled amounts from time to time.

In the use of the dispensing rack of the present invention, the composite package 20 is placed on the platform 2 in advance of the probe device 15 and is pushed forwardly by the operator until the pointed nose 16 of the probe device penetrates both the outer carton 22 and the wall of the inner container 21 as shown in FIG. 2, projecting through the penetration until the radial port 17 lies in communication with the liquid within the container and with the penetrated wall of the package lying flush against the pump housing panel 13.

In order to facilitate the. proper guiding of the advancing package or container and to insure the proper penctration of the container by the probe device 15, the longitudinal edges of the rack bounding the sides of the platform 12 are extended upwardly to provide guide rails 23. These guide rails are spaced apart a sufiicient distance to accommodate therebetween the composite package, so that when thelatter is placed on the platform 12 and pushed forwardly thereon through its open end, the probing device 15 automatically finds its mark in the container. It will be apparent that with the container in the position shown in FIG. 2, by operation of the handle of the pump 9, the operator can draw a portion of the contents of the package for dispensing through the discharge tube 11. A conventional system of ball check valves inside the pump (not. shown) maybe employed to cause the discharge of the pump to be closed off at the same time that the base of thepump is open to the contents of the package. Thereafter, the operator depresses the pump whereby the system of ball check valves operates to allow the material to be discharged from the pump spout while the contents of the pump are shut oif from the contents of the package.

It is tobe'noted that after the probe has pierced the inner container 21, a seal is formed by the gripping action of the plastic around the probe, thereby preventing leakage of the contents of the container at the point of penetration.

It-will be noted that the tilted position of the package in the cradle formed by the platform 12 and panel 13, in its relation to the probe, permits dispensing of practically all of the contents since the material in the package will drain down to the lower corner of the package in the cradle, and it has been found that only a few ounces of liquid per gallon need be wasted with this device. After a series of dispensing operations has exhausted the contents of the package, the latter is then pulled off of the probe is discarded, when a new package is installed in the rack.

The probe, the connecting tube and the pump are mounted in such a manner that all three can be removed fromthe rack in the assembled condition to allow the operator to flush the system with water by merely placing the probe in a supply of water and pumping. This is accomplished by simply removing the probe 15 from the keyhole slot 14, and withdrawing the probe, the tube 18 and pump 9 through the opening of coupling 7.-

Also, it is to'be noted that all-of the elements of this device which come in contact with liquid are easily removed and disassembled for purposes of cleaning. By placing the probe in water or cleaning or 'sterilizin g'solution, and operating the pump, the entire liquid path can be easily flushed. This is especially convenient when the material is of a type whichcan clog up the liquid path or when frequent changes of material are involved and lack of cross-contamination is desired.

Another advantage of this invention resides in the fact that the dispensing rack permits engagement from a near horizontal position so that the package is, in effect, resting exposed on the rack as distinguished from certain known dispensing devices wherein it is necessary top'ush the container down into an enclosure. This is of particular advantage from the standpoint of increasing sales appeal, as it renders visible any decoration or advertising matter appearing on the exterior of the package. This is an important advantage, particularly when the contents of the package are to be dispensed over a period of time and the rack is on public display.

A fiberboard carton combined with a plastic liner which contains the liquid is not capable of supporting as much force as most metal'or glass containers, and does not have the same close dimensional tolerances as most metal or glass containers. Thus, it is important to provide an arrangement which does not depend on package rigidityor close mechanical dimensions, and the present invention fills that need.

It will be understood that While the accompanying drawings illustrate a one-stage dispensing device, two or more such units can be placed side-by-side in a multiple arrangement.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing rack for penetrablc, liquid containers, comprising a horizontal base member, an inclined, unobstructed, open platform on said base member terminating at its lower end in an upstanding housing/the front wall of said housing being contiguous with and arranged at right angles to said inclined platform, a pump removably suspended and enclosed in said housing and having a flexible tube connected to its lower end within said housing, a probe device secured to the other end-of said flexible tube, an opening formed in the lower portion of the front wall of said housing adjacent its junction with said platform, said probe device being insertable in said opening, through the interior of said housing, means for removably securing said probe device in said opening for penetrating engagement with an adjacent Wall of a container disposed on said platform, said probe device, flexible tube and pump being removable as a unit through said housing.

2. A dispensing rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal edges of said inclined platform are provided with guide rails for directing the sliding movement of a container supported thereon.

3. A dispensing rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said opening in the front wall of said housing is in the form of a keyhole slot, and means on said probe for supporting the latter in said slot.

4. A dispensing rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening in the front wall of said housing is in the form of a keyhole slot, an annularly recessed flange carried by the base of said probe device insertable in said opening and slidable laterally in said keyhole slot with the boundaries of the latter engaged by said recess for securing said probe in place. i

5. A dispensing rack as claimed in claim 4, wherein the outer surface of said front wall is inwardly offset to accommodate said flange.

Referefices Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Moreida Oct. 20, 1925 Knight Sept. 10, 1935 Hope May 8, 1956 Potter Feb. 18, 1958 Giepen July 21, 1959 

